Writing Guidelines.md: persistent AI Coach context

Want the Coach to automatically follow your style rules without reminding it every time? Create a file named Writing Guidelines.md and write the rules in. Slima auto-attaches it to every Coach conversation.

How to create

Inside any folder of the book, make a file named Writing Guidelines.md. Slima auto-recognises the name and adds it as standing context.

The name must be exact: Writing Guidelines.md (case-sensitive, no typos). Locale variants 寫作規範.md / Writing Guidelines.md are also picked up based on the UI language.

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What to write in it

The things you want the Coach to always honour without re-explaining:

# Writing style spec

## Voice
- Third-person omniscient
- Literary, not genre-fiction tropey
- Avoid clichéd colloquialisms in dialogue

## Dialogue rules
- Dialogue in straight quotes "…"
- "he said / she said" → "he replied / she answered"
- Action verbs after dialogue stay on same line: "I'm home." He closed the door.

## Character naming
- Protagonist: J. Doe. Use "J. Doe" or "he" only.
- No "our hero" or other meta-narrative phrases

## Bans
- No "as if time stood still" or similar clichés
- No first-person plural (narrator shouldn't intrude)

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How the AI uses it

Every Coach conversation:

1. Reads Writing Guidelines.md
2. Reads your question + selected manuscript
3. Replies honouring the rules in the spec

E.g. select "He said: 'I'm home'" and ask "smooth this out" — the Coach returns "He replied: 'I'm home.'" — auto-applies your "said → replied" rule.

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Different books, different specs

Every book has its own Writing Guidelines.md — they don't interfere.

A literary novel can use a literary spec; a business book on the same account can use a business spec.

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Also good for: character voice spec

Extend it into a character voice guide:

## Main character voices

### J. Doe (35, lighthouse keeper)
- Sparse, plain diction
- Occasional dialect
- Short sentences

### A. Smith (retired teacher)
- Orderly, balanced sentences
- Likes to quote literature
- Slightly off on local dialect (she's from out of town)

The Coach writes dialogue in each character's voice.

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Related

• Manuscript vs Reference
• AI Coach
• File tree overview